“Very often, women are prescribed antidepressants instead of hormonal tests.” Menopause, the last great work taboo?

Who would believe that? Menopause is about to become the new subject of female empowerment. The idea is to change the perspective of this often difficult period of their lives and to encourage companies to better support them in a moment that is also a moment of power, the moment they reach the highest positions. The fight is big. In the United States, Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie, Naomi Watts and Gwyneth Paltrow talk about their own experiences, how they fought or “dealt” with the loss of confidence, the consequences of disability… Michelle Obama said: it is the key point of his speeches. And many business figures in the UK are taking a strong stand on the subject, asking companies to adjust their schedules and provide special training.

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Is France late?

The media world was not left out. journalist Lorraine Kelly gave her testimony on air when Big Brother reality show host Davina McCall dedicated two documentaries to it, and Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon carried out: for the first time dedicated HR policy in 2019 on his channel. These pioneers were nicknamed “menopause warriors. Their message is clear. with the right support, women can transform post-50 into a time of fulfillment and strength.

Meanwhile in France, where one in two women will be menopausal by 2050, the debate is slow. Many people suffer from symptoms in secret, disrupting their lives and careers, which are still poorly recognized. Several books published in recent months are raising awareness and offering new tools to raise awareness and take action. How Update with Laetitia Vitaud, a researcher specializing in the world of work, one of the rare experts who speaks clearly on this topic.

Madame Figaro . – The discussion of some topics related to the welfare of women in the company continues to progress. However, there is a delay in menopause. For what ?
Laetitia Vitaud. – Activist actions related to periods or motherhood in France have enabled societal progress, such as the reduction of VAT for hygienic protection, the consideration of endometriosis from a medical point of view, and in the world of work. Menopause has been discussed for only two or three years, but we are still far from it. It remains a big taboo in the company and is fighting its way into CSR policy (corporate social responsibility, editor’s note) and discussions on quality of life at work. Women never talk about it themselves because too often it leads to stigmatization or discrimination. Therefore, they do not dare to ask anything.

Hot flashes, depression, sleep problems, concentration, exhaustion… How disruptive are menopause symptoms at work? ?
A survey published on the occasion of World Menopause Day on October 18 showed that 82% of respondents are considering quitting their jobs because of these symptoms. 12% of them actually did so. And almost all women surveyed (90%) said they experience these symptoms at work, which makes them struggle. They sometimes have to go home or take days off, and when they do, the vast majority do not dare to tell the real reason for their absence.

How to change the culture so that menopause no longer means “overdue” in the collective imagination or in the eyes of partners ?
In the United Kingdom, it has been around ten years since human resource managers started the topic; to suggest through tendentious remarks that menopause coincides with the idea of ​​a woman’s expiration date is one thing, absolutely impossible. On the contrary, we remember that here in France, the editor of CNews described the environmentalist Sandrine Rousseau during the primaries as a “menopausal Greta Thunberg” as a way to disqualify the candidate. In Anglo-Saxon countries, women are more likely to be attacked for discrimination. That is why they are not victims. In France, when we detail the causes of harassment and discrimination cases in the industrial tribunal, we find that motherhood is at the top of the list, but also this alleged link between the occurrence of symptoms and less productivity. Menopause and motherhood are two periods of life when women are particularly vulnerable. In the company, over 50s feel driven to exit, and all the arguments are good to encourage them to do so.

Career development shouldn’t be reserved for twenty- and thirty-somethings.

Clearly, how can we take this period into account without making it a discriminatory factor? ?
Figures, models, embodiment are important to move things forward. We could see this with cancer. personalities from the business world spoke, which had a major impact on better integrating illness into work. The podcast The end of times (By Aude Hayot, Editor’s Note) has this virtue. Women come to talk about menopause even if we feel they are wary. Fortunately, feminist thought helps push these topics forward, naming things, continuing to document them intellectually and without taboo. But it is important that public figures with strong symbolic power talk about it in order to really change the views on this matter.

How can women be better supported? ?
Organizations are undoubtedly more mature today to bring menopause out of the invisibility it has been in. A few simple arrangements—more flexible hours, vacations, air-conditioned work or break rooms, etc.—can do wonders. Even more important will be to make fifty more visible in the company, to offer opportunities for growth, mobility and training to women, who often pass this period of life as a professional turning point. When they understand that we are ready to capitalize on their potential, employees experience this turning point much more peacefully. After all, by the time most women reach menopause, they have 15 to 20 years of active life ahead of them, they have little or no longer the responsibility of young children, and they have more time to spare. Career development shouldn’t be reserved for twenty- and thirty-somethings.

And from a medical point of view? ?
More accurate information about symptoms will enable to promote a change of mentality in the professional environment. The very negative medical discourse surrounding hormone therapy has led many women to abandon it, which means that today many of them suffer from osteoporosis, fractures and heart problems. Information should circulate at the same rate as scientific knowledge, even if it is done against lobbies. Doctors, including some gynecologists, are still ill-educated about menopause. Very often women consult and are prescribed antidepressants instead of hormonal tests. The medical world itself is lagging behind.